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Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko speaks as he meets with foreign media at his residence, the Independence Palace
Image: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images

Belarus

For the last 30 years, autocrat Alexander Lukashenko has ruled this landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic states. His opponents are in prison or have been exiled abroad.

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All Content on this topic

Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko

Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko to visit China

China says it wants to work with Belarus to deepen mutual trust.
PoliticsFebruary 25, 2023
Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko welcomes his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at Minsk National Airport

Russia plans Belarus 'absorption' by 2030 — media reports

A Russian presidential document was obtained by a group of international journalists who believe it is authentic.
PoliticsFebruary 21, 2023
Karyna Kazlouskaya prepares to fire an arrow

Paris Olympics: Dissident Belarusians abandoned by IOC

Olympic organizers are facing growing criticism over plans to let Russians and Belarusians into the Paris Olympics.
SportsFebruary 20, 2023
Fokus Deutschland/Belarus

Humor Against Belarusian Dictatorship

Exiled Belarusian filmmakers in Berlin make satirical videos about the situation in their homeland.
PoliticsFebruary 20, 202305:30 min
In the wake of the crackdown on dissent in Belarus, thousands of Belarusians fled to Ukraine.

Belarusian exiles in Ukraine support war effort

After the crackdown on dissent in Belarus, thousands of Belarusians fled to Ukraine. Many have stayed despite the risks.
January 31, 202302:53 min
A soldier walks in a trench surrounded by piles of mud

Ukraine bolsters defenses on Belarus border

Belarus and Russia have announced a weeklong training program for military staff.
January 31, 202303:25 min
Aryna Sabalenka holds the trophy aloft

Aryna Sabalenka wins Australian Open under neutral flag

The 24-year-old Belarus native won her first Grand Slam singles title but did so competing under a white flag.
SportsJanuary 28, 2023
Presidents Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin embracing each other at a meeting in Minsk, Belarus in December 2022

Belarus has been taken 'hostage' by Russia

Putin is trying to create a "puppet regime" in Minsk, Belarusian opposition spokesman Franak Viacorka tells DW.
ConflictsJanuary 25, 202326:06 min
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Tsikhanouskaya: Belarusians don't want to fight Ukrainians

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya doubts soldiers from Belarus will join Russia's forces in Ukraine.
BusinessJanuary 18, 202309:19 min
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Belarus starts trial of opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya ran for president in 2020 after her candidate husband's arrest, then relocated to Lithuania.
PoliticsJanuary 17, 2023
Andrzej Poczobut appears at the Grodno regional court on January 16, 2023

Polish-Belarusian journalist goes on trial in Belarus

Andrzej Poczobut's detention worsened relations between Poland and Belarus, and Warsaw is demanding his release.
Law and JusticeJanuary 16, 2023
A mural of Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski on a wall in Vilnius

Ales Bialiatski: Belarus begins trial of Nobel Prize winner

Ales Bialiatski faces a sentence of up to 12 years for charges of smuggling money to fund opposition activities.
PoliticsJanuary 5, 2023
A Belarusian soldier guards a helicopter a Belarus-Russia joint military training ground during in 2017

Belarus says Ukrainian missile fell in its territory

Minsk claimed that a Soviet-era air defense missile was fired from Ukraine and landed in Belarus.
ConflictsDecember 29, 2022
Former Belarus swimmer, olympic medalist Aleksandra Herasimenia

Belarus sentences Olympic swimmer, activist to 12 years

Aliaksandra Herasimenia and Alexander Opeykin were found guilty of harming national security and sentenced in absentia.
Human RightsDecember 27, 2022
Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski in a courtroom cage in August 2011.

Ales Bialiatski, Belarusian human rights warrior

How the Belarusian activist and political prisoner became a hero to millions.
PoliticsDecember 9, 2022
Alexander Lukashenko (l.) and Vladimir Putin at a meeting in Russia in May 2022

Belarus has been taken 'hostage' by Russia

Putin is trying to create a "puppet regime" in Minsk, the spokesman for Belarus' democratic opposition tells DW.
ConflictsDecember 7, 202226:00 min
Maria Kolesnikova, with very short hair and her trademark bright red lipstick, makes a heart shape with her hands behind bars in a courtroom.

How did Belarus' Maria Kolesnikova end up in hospital?

What happened to the political prisoner while in detention — and what have her family and fellow campaigners been told?
PoliticsDecember 1, 2022
Maria Kolesnikova makes a heart gesture during a hearing at the Minsk District Court, Belarus.

Belarus: Jailed dissident Maria Kolesnikova hospitalized

Maria Kolesnikova was arrested in 2020 after leading protests against Alexander Lukashenko.
PoliticsNovember 29, 2022
Vladimir Makei

Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei dies 'suddenly'

The 64-year-old had been the country's top diplomat for a decade and was a possible successor to Alexander Lukashenko.
PoliticsNovember 26, 2022
A T-72B tank takes part in joint military drills held by Belarusian and Russian troops (February 2022)

Ukraine prepares for Russian troop buildup in Belarus

DW correspondent Fanny Facsar reports from the border between Ukraine and Belarus.
ConflictsOctober 24, 202202:39 min
Migrants and refugees line up along the borders of Belarus

Amnesty reports alleged migrant abuse in Latvia

Riga slammed a report by the watchdog detailing human rights violations as "bogus accusations."
PoliticsOctober 13, 2022
In this file photo from February 19, 2022, a Belarusian Army military helicopter flies over a field during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills

Belarus and Russia to deploy joint regional military group

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed the action was necessary because of a threat from Kyiv and its backers.
ConflictsOctober 10, 2022
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya takes part in a protest

Belarus opposition leader: My people are ready to fight

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya believes a Russia weakened by the Ukraine war offers pro-democracy Belarusians a chance.
PoliticsOctober 8, 2022
Ales Bialiatski

Belarus opposition urges release of Nobel winner Bialiatski

Belarus's opposition hope the award of the peace prize to the activist might help precipitate his release.
Human RightsOctober 7, 2022
Weißrussland | Journalist - Andrej Aleksandrov

Belarus: Former DW reporter behind bars

Former DW reporter Andrei Alexandrov has been handed a 14-year prison term in Belarus.
PoliticsOctober 7, 2022
Alexander Lukashenko speaks in a meeting as others sit around a table

Belarusian propaganda targets Poland

Historical resentments are being stirred up, with leader Belarusian Alexander Lukashenko suspecting subversive agents.
PoliticsSeptember 25, 2022
external

Belarusian protest choir performs in Bonn

A "Beethoven Fest" concert saw musicians from Belarus, Ukraine and Germany perform together.
MusicSeptember 9, 202202:17 min
To The Point Totale ENG

Is Putin ruining Ukraine, Belarus, Russia?

Putin's war against Ukraine has also impacted life in Russia and Belarus. What will the future bring?
PoliticsAugust 25, 202226:06 min
To The Point Totale ENG

Tragic triangle: Is Putin destroying Ukraine, Belarus and Russia?

Putin’s war against Ukraine has also impacted life in Russia and Belarus. What will the future bring?
PoliticsAugust 25, 202226:01 min
A demonstrator holds a sign reading ''Free Ukraine, Free Belarus, Free Russia''

Speaking truth to power

As the war in Ukraine rages on, we look at the fallout in Ukraine's neighboring countries Belarus and Russia.
Human RightsAugust 3, 202229:59 min
A woman with historical Belarusian and Ukrainian flags painted on her cheeks shouts slogans during the Belarusian Freedom Day march on March 26, 2022 in Warsaw, Poland

World in Progress: 'Free all words'

As Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko continues to up the pressure on freedom of expression, it becomes increasingly dangerous to voice any sort of dissent. The European Writers' Council wants to give writers their voices back and has launched its 'Free all words' program to translate as many of their works as possible. DW speaks to Nina George, President of the European Writers' Council.
Human RightsAugust 3, 202206:19 min
Still image from a DW interview with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

'Lukashenko is trying to threaten Ukraine'

According to reports, Alexander Lukashenko wants Belarusian forces to play a bigger role in Russia's war in Ukraine.
ConflictsJuly 22, 2022
external

Lukashenko is trying to threaten Ukraine

Belarus opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya dismisses reports on Belarus joining Russia's war against Ukraine.
PoliticsJuly 21, 202209:10 min
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Kyiv uneasy over Russian activity in Belarus

Western intelligence agencies say Russian soldiers and weapons are ready and waiting in Belarus.
ConflictsJuly 12, 202203:30 min
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks next to the wall erected to prevent migrant crossing on Polish-Belarusian border

Poland completes Belarus border wall

It came after Poland accused Belarus in late 2021 of "instrumentalizing" asylum-seekers.
MigrationJune 30, 2022
Migrants stand behind a fence at the Rudninkai military training ground

Amnesty report details Lithuania migrant abuse

Amnesty International has recorded accounts from migrants who allegedly faced abuse in Lithuanian facilities.
MigrationJune 27, 2022
Iskander-M missile loaded on the military vehicle

Russia to send Belarus nuclear-capable missiles

President Vladimir Putin intends to transfer the "conventional and nuclear versions" of the Iskander-M missile systems.
PoliticsJune 26, 2022
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has approved changes to the criminal code that would make attempted acts of terrorism punishable by the death penalty

Belarus: Death penalty for 'attempted terrorism'

The decision to introduce the death penalty for attempted attacks could affect opposition activists currently on trial.
PoliticsMay 18, 2022
Soldier in winter uniform aiming a rifle on a bare, partially snowy moorland

Are there still Russian soldiers in Belarus?

Russian troops have disappeared from the regions around Kyiv and Chernihiv. But are they still in southern Belarus?
ConflictsApril 24, 2022
Book shelves in the shape of a human head filled with books

World Book Day: Writing in the shadow of war

Violence and repression impacts writers physically and mentally, but inspires some to turn trauma into words.
CultureApril 22, 2022
David Vorholt

Wimbledon ban punishes the wrong people

David Vorholt
Wimbledon wants to ban players from Russia and Belarus. It's right to take a stand against the war, but not this way.
SportsApril 21, 2022
Tennis player Daniil Medvedev raising his racket with the Wimbledon logo behind him

ATP and WTA criticize Wimbledon ban of Russian players

The ATP and WTA have slammed Wimbledon's "unilateral" ban of Russian and Belarusian players.
SportsApril 20, 2022
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (2nd L) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (R front) arrive by helicopter at the Vostochny

Putin vows Russia won't be isolated in meeting with ally

Putin insisted Belarus would not be isolated from the world over Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
PoliticsApril 12, 2022
Russian soldiers in a snowy landscape

Wounded Russian soldiers fill Belarusian hospitals

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, dead and wounded Russian soldiers have been arriving in Belarus.
ConflictsMarch 19, 2022
Male IT specialist plugging in a fiber optic cable (symbolic picture)

IT specialists caught in the crossfire of war

After the breakup of the former Soviet Union, the IT sector had been thriving in Ukraine and Belarus. But then came war.
BusinessMarch 16, 2022
The superyacht Dilbar in Bremen in 2016

Spiegel: Berlin sets up task force to enact Russia sanctions

Germany currently has no method for confiscating yachts, private jets and homes that are subject to EU sanctions.
BusinessMarch 12, 2022
Putin und Lukashenko

Interview Lev Lvovskiy

BEROC's Lev Lvovskiy looks at what's behind the close governmental ties between Russia and Belarus,
BusinessMarch 9, 202204:53 min
Delegations attend the third round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Brest, Belarus on March 07

Ukraine, Russia hold third round of talks

Previous talks agreed on humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians, but those plans have so far faltered.
ConflictsMarch 7, 2022
The Beijing 2022 Paralympic logo

Paralympics: Russian athletes banned after all

Less than 24 hours after athletes from Russia or Belarus were allowed to compete as neutrals, the decision was reversed.
SportsMarch 3, 2022
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny

Navalny urges Russians to protest war 'wherever you are'

The opposition leader urges Russians to hold daily protests and labels Vladimir Putin "a clearly insane tsar."
PoliticsMarch 2, 2022